Northern Kentucky veterans were among those honored in Frankfort Wednesday as part of the inaugural class of the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame.

They ranged from Lee Frakes of Walton, whose B-17 was shot down during World War II, to Brandon Bailey of Florence, who almost lost his life in a bomb explosion in Afghanistan in 2009.

Both men are Purple Heart honorees.

And both have spent their civilian lives doing what they can to help members of the military, especially those affected by war.

Frakes founded the Walton Veterans Memorial. Bailey, now five years into a once-doubtful recovery, is traveling as a speaker on behalf of the Wounded Warrior Project and the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame.

The man behind the state hall of fame is H.B. Deatherage, a Vietnam War veteran and businessman involved with veterans' projects throughout Northern Kentucky.

Deatherage worked for two years forming the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame along with Lorene Friedman of the Blue Star Mothers, Florence businessman Don Castle and Burlington retired educator Gary Griesser.

As he had done decades earlier founding the Boone County Veterans Memorial in Florence, Deatherage shepherded the detail work - getting nonprofit status, drafting criteria for hall of fame membership, lobbying legislators in Frankfort - to make Wednesday's induction ceremony possible.

On Wednesday, Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes greeted and helped honor the inaugural class of the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame.

The organization inducted 27 veterans into the hall of fame in a ceremony at Frankfort's Capital Plaza Hotel.

"As Secretary of State, I have been a committed advocate for our military - both active-duty members and veterans," said Grimes. "Today, I was proud to present these distinguished inductees their Hall of Fame medallions as we recognized them for their accomplishments both on and beyond the battlefield."

The inaugural class represents service in five foreign conflicts and over 200 years of combined military service. Seven of the veterans earned Purple Heart medals. Four men inducted have been awarded Medals of Honor.

During her remarks, Grimes presented to Judy Deatherage on behalf of H.B. Deatherage, founder and director of the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame, a medallion award from the National Association of Secretaries of State for H.B.'s long-term dedication to recognizing veterans across Kentucky and establishing Kentucky's hall of fame.

"I was deeply humbled by Secretary Grimes' honor," said Judy Deatherage, who accepted on behalf of her husband who was hospitalized Tuesday in Lexington. "The Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame is proud to have her support, and we were glad to have her help honoring these veterans today."

The ceremonies are taking place in a two-day event March 11-12.

Hall of fame inductees from Northern Kentucky are Ronald Allari of Alexandria, William Cappell of Burlington, Joseph Kalil of Florence, Donald Kirkpatrick of Burlington, Alvin Poweleit of Florence, William Rachford of Alexandria and Robert Williams of Independence.